Reclaim The Night – Otter Estuary Nature Reserve

Come together to walk after dark at the Otter Estuary Nature Reserve.

Join the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust to celebrate women’s right to walk freely, safely, and joyfully in nature at any hour. Our reserves should echo with curlews, not curfews. Together, we will light the way toward a countryside where everyone feels safe, day or night.

Our Reclaim the Night walk will be peacefully appropriate to a wildlife site and positively celebrate the right of women and girls to walk freely, safely, and joyfully in nature at any time and remove the winter curfew that many women experience. Darkness restricts some women’s access to nature in the winter months, bringing consequences to their physical and mental health and wellbeing.

All are welcome to attend. Although the focus of Reclaim The Night is to highlight women’s experiences, safety and confidence in countryside spaces, we invite everyone to attend. We believe it will take a whole society approach to end the winter curfew for women and girls and so building allies and involving all people is essential.

Event Details:

• Date: Friday 5th December 2025
• Time: 18:00-19:00
• Location: Lime Kiln Car Park, EX9 6JD
  W3W: single.robots.expiring
  Grid Reference: SY 07302 82164

Know before you go…

Meet at the Bird Hide north of Lime Kiln car park at Budleigh Salterton. The event will be starting at 6pm, so please make sure you are parked and dressed warmly before this time to ensure you are there for the start of the event.

The route follows a circular 2.5km walk on level paths, suitable for all ages and abilities.

Bring a non-flaming lantern or torch and all your female friends and family.
Dogs welcome if needed for support, but paths may be busy in places — please consider leaving dogs at home for their comfort and everyone’s safety.

If you wish to discuss on-site accessibility please contact [email protected]

Please note there are no refreshments or toilet facilities on site. The nearest facilities and concessions are based at Budleigh beach or Budleigh Salterton Cricket Club, which will be open after the event.

What is our Reclaim The Night?

The Reclaim the Night movement began over 40 years ago and in cities across the country hundreds of women have taken back their cities, marching with torches to promotes safe access to public spaces for women, without discrimination or fear.  We don’t think that a Reclaim the Night has ever been hosted on a nature reserve before, but as an organisation providing and promoting access to the countryside, we are challenged to ensure equitable access because national data suggests:

– Men make more visits to green spaces than women.

– A lack of physical safety or fear of harm prevented 26% of women in the UK from enjoying nature, compared to just 9% of men.

– Some women find nature spaces inaccessible or less enjoyable because they are not safe from risk or physical harm, sexual harassment, hate crime or discrimination.

– There is an underrepresentation of women in physical activity

– With women being less physically active than men, women are also at particularly high risk of poor mental wellbeing.

So join us for this landmark event and help us combat the winter curfew for women on the Otter Estuary Nature Reserve.

This event is organised by the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust which is supported through funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Thanks to National Lottery Players